"I think often people tell girls what to be and how to feel, even if it's positive—you are beautiful, you are special, you are this, you are that —and there aren't a lot of people like Alexis who are asking questions," Bell told me. "How do you feel beautiful? What are *you *passionate about?"

Bell and Jones, both activists, met in Washington, D.C., in 2008 when they were lobbying for the group Invisible Children, which seeks to liberate child soldiers. They shared an apartment and became close. The book, which features a foreword by actress Sophia Bush, includes 30 stories by women who have overcome obstacles of all types and encourages girls to embrace the things that make them unique.

Jones' book, which is available at Claire's through the end of the month (and everywhere after that), aims to turn self-doubt into self-love for high-school-age girls and younger.

What does Bell hope young women take from the book?

"I hope girls feel more confident... Everyone thinks that the quick fix is external—if I can just get this person to notice me, if I could just look this certain way, if I could just be presented this way. All self-confidence and self-worth comes from within."